'cation-bearing' originates from Modern English as a scientific compound of 'cation' (a term for a positively charged ion) and 'bearing' (carrying).

'cation-bearing' was formed in modern scientific English by combining 'cation' (a 19th-century coinage for a positively charged ion) with 'bearing' derived from Old English 'beran' through Middle English 'berende', resulting in the compound adjective used in chemistry and materials science.

Initially, 'cation' (coined in the 19th century) referred to a species that moves toward the cathode (literally 'down' or 'toward' in Greek-derived sense) and 'bearing' historically meant 'carrying'; together the compound now specifically denotes 'carrying positive ions' in modern scientific usage.